"Long time no see, Magneto." Shin extended his hand in greeting, though his sharp gaze shifted past him, fixing on the figure of Apocalypse restrained nearby. "I didn't expect you, of all people, could capture this one."
Magneto, who had been tense at first, slowly lowered his guard. He had already calculated that, given the current balance of power, even if he tried to fight, the chances of him being pinned down were extremely high.
Storm, also known as Ororo, stood poised and calm, a striking contrast to the tension filling the room. She was both a sorceress and a mutant, a combination that granted her a wide range of powers. While she might not have been the most destructive among those present, she was without a doubt the most flexible, the one who could maintain absolute control even in volatile moments.
Quicksilver, on the other hand, radiated restless energy. In terms of raw advantage, his super speed made him a terrifying opponent. The saying went that nothing could defeat speed, and his presence exemplified it.
With enough ruthlessness, he could overwhelm almost anyone. Only those like Wolverine or Colossus, mutants with adamantine defenses and regenerative abilities, might survive long enough to resist him. For others, a single misstep would be fatal.
But among them stood Wanda, the Scarlet Witch, and Shin himself. Their powers placed them on a level where even Magneto had no illusions of victory. He had fought them before, had seen firsthand what they could do.
"It's been a while," Magneto finally said, his tone even. "But you're mistaken. I wasn't the one who captured him." A faint glimmer of intrigue shone in his eyes. "You'll have a hard time guessing where I found him."
Shin paused, his brow furrowing. Then realization dawned on him, and he voiced the suspicion. "The military? Or some government laboratory?"
Magneto looked at him with mild surprise, impressed by the accuracy of the guess. "Very close. I discovered him inside a Trask Industries laboratory. You know, the one that works for the military." He let the revelation sink in before adding, "And thanks to you, for eliminating William Stryker, I was able to dig through his base's intelligence and uncover this lead."
Shin fell silent. For all his knowledge of this world, he hadn't expected Apocalypse, a being considered the father of all mutants, to fall into human hands without any grand spectacle.
But then another thought pierced his mind, and his expression grew grim. 'How could they possibly contain him without tearing the world apart in the process? There was only one plausible explanation... the so-called mutant cure.'
Though the serum hadn't been developed specifically to target someone like Apocalypse, its effects were undeniable. Within a ten-meter radius, it could suppress the powers of any mutant. Against groups, it was effective, but against individuals, it was devastating, especially if they were caught off guard.
Even Apocalypse, an ancient Omega-level mutant whose power dwarfed most, could be subdued by such an attack.
Shin reflected bitterly on the irony. 'This is the constant in American comics, powers are gained easily, yet stripped away just as easily, often at the whim of scientists. In the end, the greatest weapon isn't strength, but intellect.'
Storm broke his thoughts, stepping forward with a hardened gaze locked on Magneto. "What exactly do you intend to do?" she demanded. "Even if Apocalypse is dangerous, that doesn't excuse experimenting on him!"
Her words carried weight. Both the X-Men and the Brotherhood had one common creed, they despised the exploitation of mutants as lab subjects. On the battlefield, they could clash bitterly, yet when it came to rescuing captured mutants, both sides acted.
The Brotherhood's methods were brutal; they would rescue their own but leave no one else alive, cutting down guards and scientists alike. The X-Men, by contrast, prioritized saving lives and often avoided unnecessary killing.
But using mutants as test subjects? That was a universal red line neither faction could abide. Many of them had witnessed those horrors firsthand. Some bore the scars themselves.
Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, however, showed no visible reaction. To them, Apocalypse being subjected to experiments was hardly a tragedy. If anything, it felt like a fitting punishment. They neither approved nor protested, they simply did not care. They had never been hunted like animals, never strapped to a table, never seen comrades turned into unwilling test data. To them, this was just another consequence for a villain.
But this wasn't the time to air family grievances. Wanda and Pietro held their tongues, leaving Ororo to continue her tense dialogue with Magneto.
Magneto's expression hardened. He raised a small test tube in his hand, letting the faint glow of its contents catch their eyes. "You don't understand his importance. Apocalypse is the one who can change the fate of our people." His voice grew steady, almost reverent. "That is why he must be used."
"Importance?" Storm scoffed, the sneer curling her lips. "All I see is your ambition. So he's ancient, so what? What does that matter to us? Build a few more pyramids and you expect the world to bow?"
Magneto shook his head slowly, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "You don't grasp his true power. Apocalypse's so-called reincarnation is well known, but it is not what defines him. His true ability lies elsewhere, an ability beyond most imagination." He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "The ability to enhance the powers of other mutants."
Storm's composure faltered. Her frown deepened. "You want to use his power to make yourself stronger?"
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Of course not. Or rather, not just that." He took a step toward her, his voice confident and persuasive. "You've studied under Charles. As a leader and a scientist, he must have taught you the fundamentals of our kind."
Ororo gave a slow nod, wary but listening. "I know the basics. The X-gene, how it activates, how it defines us."
"Then you also know," Magneto continued, "that in theory every human carries the X-gene. For some, it lies dormant. For others, it awaits activation. And for us, it already burns bright." He raised the vial again, his tone almost triumphant. "Apocalypse embodies the power to ignite it. He can make the X-gene active in anyone."
The implication struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes widened. "You're still pursuing that insane idea to turn ordinary people into mutants?"
"Why not?" Magneto's voice rang with conviction. "Isn't that the most peaceful and perfect solution? No more humans, no more division—only mutants. Ororo, you can stand at my side. Together we can make this world what it was always meant to be."
Storm hesitated. She understood the allure of his words. The X-Men had always fought for coexistence, but deep down, many of them had once dreamed of a world where they were no longer outcasts. Turning humanity into mutants might seem like harmony. But Ororo knew the darker truth.
Most ordinary people did not want mutation. They feared being labeled freaks. And for many, mutation was not a gift at all, it was a curse. Their abilities crippled them, twisted their bodies, or left them suffering lives of isolation. In reality, the dream Magneto offered was just another form of control.
Her gaze steeled as she prepared her answer.
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Now available - Chapter 626: Shin Makes a Move